Welcome.
These are some of the attempts at verse that I have made over the years. I trust that they are to the glory of the Lord Jesus - and that putting them here is to His glory too.
I have now posted most that I have written at least once but continue in case a new audience finds new blessing. Occasionally I throw in some other verse.
Comment are welcome.

Monday, 29 February 2016

He knew the ways of learning, to createPlush tapestries of words the plush enjoyed,But found the employment did not satisfy,His gorgeous words returning to him void;The cross of Jesus crossed and double-crossed;Affliction turned his pilgrimage through time;Another Prince's visage was embossedUpon his coin, and grace repaired his rhyme.Did the world's bands impinge upon him still?His sole defence was what his Master said.And, seeing human meanness and God's will,"I have", he could exclaim, "another Head".Since love made all his sours and bitters sweetHis finis was, "Then I did sit and eat".

George Herbert (1593-1633) was a Welsh-born English poet. After being the university orator of Cambridge he left, after some soul-searching, to become priest of the parish of Bemerton. His poems were (mainly) unpublished until after his death; he said of the work, ""he shall find in it a picture of the many spiritual conflicts that have passed between God and my soul, before I could subject mine to the will of Jesus, my Master".I have labelled this a sonnet, although I appreciate it is not quite one; cf Herbert's Josephs coat.

Friday, 26 February 2016

Love will do its best for us -Christ the Lord came near to serve,Bore the judgment we deserve:Love has stood the test for us -Love will do its best for us.Love will do its best for us -Love has store of wealth and food,Everything to do us good:Thus will love invest for us -Love will do its best for usLove will do its best for us -For the Spirit of our God,In our hearts, spreads love abroadAs a heavenly guest for us:Love will do its best for us.Love will do its best for us -In the Father’s house, through grace,Jesus has prepared our place.Love has made a rest for us:Love will do its best for us.

Sunday, 21 February 2016

He came to His own- Deliverer and Messiah - But they would not have Him,Would not accede to His rights. He stood in the midst - The Son of man, the Victor - In right of suffering and conquest Announcing His peace. He came to the throne - The Son, the Ascended Man - And set Himself down there In right of His glory. He came to the throne - The Son of the Father, the Beloved - To sit at the Father's right hand By right of the Father's will. He stood in their midst - The Risen One, the Shepherd - And His brethren came round And bowed down to Him.He will come to His own- Deliverer and Messiah -And He will be anointedIn the midst of companions.11-14/02/2016

Tuesday, 16 February 2016

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. As to every branch in me not bearing fruit, he takes it away; and as to every one bearing fruit, he purges it that it may bring forth more fruit.",John 15 1,2."More fruit" - 'tis for Himself, His pleasure to fulfil - He takes the branch in hand With rare and perfect skill.He seeks the goodly fruit, The Husbandman divine;He prunes and trains the branch, That Christ in us may shine.The pruning may give pain, The training make us smart;From things to which we cling 'Tis bitter thus to part.Would we be left alone, Untended by His care,To grow untamed and wild, Nothing of Christ to bear?Not so; we look to Him, To train us as He please;To clear away whate'er Unsuited there He sees;That thus the fruit may be Both plentiful and choice;For Him , the Husbandman, To make His heart rejoice.(This is another by T Willey, published in "The Songs of the Lord", 1931.)

Thursday, 11 February 2016

Darkness that can be felt invests the land;Darkness that can be felt encumbers man.But we have light in which we are apart:The Morning Star arising in our hearts!The day is near - while we await its startJesus the Lord has this peculiar charm:The Morning Star, brilliantly coruscant.Among our pressures the Lord Himself impartsTo overcomers joys that are sure to last:Imparts Himself so that, exuberant,They praise Him as the Bright and Morning Star.

Monday, 8 February 2016

As He walked a perfect pathway
Where sin's power was manifest,
And expressed God's grace and mercy
So that heaven could attest
That the Father was delighted
And the Spirit was at rest
There was nothing out of keeping
With the holiness of God.
As He walked the paths of sorrow,
Thwarting Satan's power to tempt
From the will of God His Father
And what malice could attempt
Through betrayal, and denial,
And injustice, and contempt,
There was nothing out of keeping
With the holiness of God.
But when John was elevated
To the mountain to behold
The celestial culmination
Of God's workmanship unfold
In the Lamb's wife - that great city
That is formed of purest gold:
There was nothing out of keeping
With the holiness of God.

Friday, 5 February 2016

In time of famineThe prophet dwelt withThe widow God supplied.In time of triumph GodSmelt the offering's savour,Having provided the fire.In time of prayer Elijah,Bent in his intensity, kneltFace between knees.In time of vigour seeThe rain pelt; the prophetOutrun the chariot.Yet in time of weaknessSee his iron melt; butGod still provided.In time of recoveryThe prophet duly dealtIn judgment and grace.The time of departure!God showed how His heart feltTowards His servant!

The picture is from the old black Bible book that my mother used to read to me from; I always remember this picture when I read about Elijah running.

Wednesday, 3 February 2016

If Satan should deride,Or tempt us in his sleekness,The Spirit is our guideTo help us in our weakness.Within is sin and pride,Outside is sin and bleakness;The Spirit is our guideTo help us in our weakness.He's ready to provideThe grace to grow in meekness;The Spirit is our guideTo help us in our weakness.